The extended template - Improving it

I know why the extended template "irks" me. The segment titles often are so limiting and just plain wrong. I'm working on a book review at the moment and I realized something.

"Content/Style/Audienc e" is one box. That doesn't make any sense to me, nor would I actually like it all jumbled together when reading it. I want the "Content" in one place. I want the "Audience" or who the book is good for in one place. I want "Style" to be an optional category depending on if it's relevant. It is much more relevant if I'm writing a review about graphic porn, erotic stories than a overall book about sexual practices. Besides "Style" may just get covered in "Design" depending on how the reviewer writes.

We really need the ability to change the segment titles so that they fit the sections we are actually writing. (I'm tempted to separate out "audience" and put it under "personal comments", but logistically that wouldn't make a lot of sense if someone only reads part of the review.)

I'm really short on sleep right now, so I'm sorry if my verbal skills are not as adequate as they could be if I waited.

I know why the extended template "irks" me. The segment titles often are so limiting and just plain wrong. I'm working on a book review at the moment and I realized something.

"Content/Style/Audienc e" is one box.
...

I know why the extended template "irks" me. The segment titles often are so limiting and just plain wrong. I'm working on a book review at the moment and I realized something.

"Content/Style/Audienc e" is one box. That doesn't make any sense to me, nor would I actually like it all jumbled together when reading it. I want the "Content" in one place. I want the "Audience" or who the book is good for in one place. I want "Style" to be an optional category depending on if it's relevant. It is much more relevant if I'm writing a review about graphic porn, erotic stories than a overall book about sexual practices. Besides "Style" may just get covered in "Design" depending on how the reviewer writes.

We really need the ability to change the segment titles so that they fit the sections we are actually writing. (I'm tempted to separate out "audience" and put it under "personal comments", but logistically that wouldn't make a lot of sense if someone only reads part of the review.)

I'm really short on sleep right now, so I'm sorry if my verbal skills are not as adequate as they could be if I waited.

The option for customized section titles is a good idea, as long as you cover all the required areas.

One other thing I thought of today was if we could put the sections in whatever order we wanted, so it flows the way we want.

The option for customized section titles is a good idea, as long as you cover all the required areas.

One other thing I thought of today was if we could put the sections in whatever order we wanted, so it flows the way we want.

I would looove to be able to change the order of sections. Sometimes I'd rather talk about care and cleaning right after materials, or the design right after the use or something. That flexibility in order would be wonderful.

I do understand your point. When these templates where being designed, the idea for these segment title was to give you some direction for the content. Not every segment title, or template, can be the perfect fit for every product and every review. So it is more of a suggestion for the content, and also a reminder of things to consider that people would want & need to know about the item (and in this case, the book) that you are writing a review for.

That being said... we welcome any suggestions that you may have on ways to improve these segment titles, or anything else that you can think of.

My feedback here is, again, I think it is perception. For some "Style" means writing style or voice, and for others "style" still means genre. That's understandable.

I think making the sections able to be changed by Advanced Reviewers is an interesting idea but somewhat defeats the purpose of getting that basic across-the-board info from the reviews in those given categories.

As far as changing the order for the review writing purposes - I pretty much always do mine in the order my thought process is in. So, maybe go at it section by section according to your process? That's why you can save each section individually. If you mean changing the section order so it flows better, we could consider that - can you suggest which ones might be switched around?

What we'd like to hear are some suggestions for changes. Such as specific sections you'd like to see or changes to existing section titles? Let's look at how we might incorporate changes that will benefit the community as a whole.

The extended template is not only to help us remember details in reviews but is designed to integrate the product description onto the product page. Changing up the headings and sections and where they go would give the site a totally jumbled up look.

We may not always like every detail of every thing on the site but our tech guys and programmers bust ass to make everything run smooth and to grant our wishes with things.

On this one, though? I think we need to accept change and deal with it, even if it's not "ideal" for each of us with each review.

Asking for change is cool. But these templates took months of work and are as they are because it works best, as a whole, for Description Review integration, etc.

I'm guessing tech is sitting in the background going "You've GOT to be kidding me? AGAIN with this stuff? ARGHHHHH"

They cater to our wishes a lot. I think we, as reviewers, need to occasionally look at the bigger picture and realize every change isn't all about us and sometimes deal with stuff we don't "love" because it's best for the site.

I do understand your point. When these templates where being designed, the idea for these segment title was to give you some direction for the content. Not every segment title, or template, can be the perfect fit for every product and every review.
...

I do understand your point. When these templates where being designed, the idea for these segment title was to give you some direction for the content. Not every segment title, or template, can be the perfect fit for every product and every review. So it is more of a suggestion for the content, and also a reminder of things to consider that people would want & need to know about the item (and in this case, the book) that you are writing a review for.

That being said... we welcome any suggestions that you may have on ways to improve these segment titles, or anything else that you can think of.

True... but the section titles are also the titles that show up in the review.

Victoria- "defeats the purpose of getting that basic across-the-board info from the reviews in those given categories" that can be defeated if you simply sidestep the extended review and do a standard review. I could defeat it now if I wanted in the extended review format, but it's not really my nature.

There should be a way to make the extended review process functional and desirable from the point of view of both Eden and the reviewers.

Unfortunately, I really should not deal with this today in any way shape or form. For personal reasons, I'm lacking discretion and probably brain power.

The extended template is not only to help us remember details in reviews but is designed to integrate the product description onto the product page. Changing up the headings and sections and where they go would give the site a totally jumbled up
...

The extended template is not only to help us remember details in reviews but is designed to integrate the product description onto the product page. Changing up the headings and sections and where they go would give the site a totally jumbled up look.We may not always like every detail of every thing on the site but our tech guys and programmers bust ass to make everything run smooth and to grant our wishes with things.On this one, though? I think we need to accept change and deal with it, even if it's not "ideal" for each of us with each review.Asking for change is cool. But these templates took months of work and are as they are because it works best, as a whole, for Description Review integration, etc.I'm guessing tech is sitting in the background going "You've GOT to be kidding me? AGAIN with this stuff? ARGHHHHH"They cater to our wishes a lot. I think we, as reviewers, need to occasionally look at the bigger picture and realize every change isn't all about us and sometimes deal with stuff we don't "love" because it's best for the site.

Sigh.

If I'd have seen your post before mine, I wouldn't have posted at all.

Honestly, I think some of the section titles could just use a bit of tweaking with the word usage. I think the ideas are solid but the cold, hard titles are a bit lacking and causes the extended template to be less useful overall.

My feedback here is, again, I think it is perception. For some "Style" means writing style or voice, and for others "style" still means genre. That's understandable.

I think making the sections able to be changed by
...

My feedback here is, again, I think it is perception. For some "Style" means writing style or voice, and for others "style" still means genre. That's understandable.

I think making the sections able to be changed by Advanced Reviewers is an interesting idea but somewhat defeats the purpose of getting that basic across-the-board info from the reviews in those given categories.

As far as changing the order for the review writing purposes - I pretty much always do mine in the order my thought process is in. So, maybe go at it section by section according to your process? That's why you can save each section individually. If you mean changing the section order so it flows better, we could consider that - can you suggest which ones might be switched around?

What we'd like to hear are some suggestions for changes. Such as specific sections you'd like to see or changes to existing section titles? Let's look at how we might incorporate changes that will benefit the community as a whole.

As far as toy reviews, I might put: Packaging, Design/Shape/Size, Functions/Performance/ Controls, Material/Texture, Care and Maintenance, Use. Then keep Personal Comments and Experience at the end.

Personally, that's how I liked to write mine when I used the free-form template.

I don't have issues with the titles of the sections themselves. I think in the review it would be helpful sometimes to be able to rearrange the order of sections. This wouldn't have to affect the order of the sections on the product page (as in descriptive reviews in the "Overview" tab). (Note: I readily admit I don't write code for websites, so I don't know if things I'm suggesting are difficult or not.) What came to mind was something similar to my Blogger layout page: I can drag and drop content sections if I want to rearrange text / pictures / applications in my side bar.

I don't have issues with the titles of the sections themselves. I think in the review it would be helpful sometimes to be able to rearrange the order of sections. This wouldn't have to affect the order of the sections on the product page
...

I don't have issues with the titles of the sections themselves. I think in the review it would be helpful sometimes to be able to rearrange the order of sections. This wouldn't have to affect the order of the sections on the product page (as in descriptive reviews in the "Overview" tab). (Note: I readily admit I don't write code for websites, so I don't know if things I'm suggesting are difficult or not.) What came to mind was something similar to my Blogger layout page: I can drag and drop content sections if I want to rearrange text / pictures / applications in my side bar.

I certainly hope how I use the template can come in handy for someone else:

Basically I realize that the template isn't always going to work the way we want it to, so I have adapted ME to fit the template. WTF does that mean?

I copied the template to a word doc. on my computer...time consuming, I know, but well worth it. I pull up that document and type in my own "template." If you look at some of my reviews you will see a "specs" section, or a "blah, blah, blah" area...that is my "you will find this shit in every review" information. Then I will have "review," or something like that. I can choose any title I want, and I can arrange it the way I want. I can combine materials and care in one if I'd like. Of course you have to use a normal template, but if you are an advanced reviewer who has been at this a while that may not really bother you.

I certainly hope how I use the template can come in handy for someone else:

Basically I realize that the template isn't always going to work the way we want it to, so I have adapted ME to fit the template. WTF does that mean?

I
...

I certainly hope how I use the template can come in handy for someone else:

Basically I realize that the template isn't always going to work the way we want it to, so I have adapted ME to fit the template. WTF does that mean?

I copied the template to a word doc. on my computer...time consuming, I know, but well worth it. I pull up that document and type in my own "template." If you look at some of my reviews you will see a "specs" section, or a "blah, blah, blah" area...that is my "you will find this shit in every review" information. Then I will have "review," or something like that. I can choose any title I want, and I can arrange it the way I want. I can combine materials and care in one if I'd like. Of course you have to use a normal template, but if you are an advanced reviewer who has been at this a while that may not really bother you.

I certainly hope how I use the template can come in handy for someone else:

Basically I realize that the template isn't always going to work the way we want it to, so I have adapted ME to fit the template. WTF does that mean?

I
...

I certainly hope how I use the template can come in handy for someone else:

Basically I realize that the template isn't always going to work the way we want it to, so I have adapted ME to fit the template. WTF does that mean?

I copied the template to a word doc. on my computer...time consuming, I know, but well worth it. I pull up that document and type in my own "template." If you look at some of my reviews you will see a "specs" section, or a "blah, blah, blah" area...that is my "you will find this shit in every review" information. Then I will have "review," or something like that. I can choose any title I want, and I can arrange it the way I want. I can combine materials and care in one if I'd like. Of course you have to use a normal template, but if you are an advanced reviewer who has been at this a while that may not really bother you.